Washington Paycheck Calculator 2026
Washington has no state income tax. Estimate federal + FICA net pay below.
Last updated: November 2025
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Washington 2026 tax overview
No wage income tax. Separate 7% capital-gains tax on long-term gains above ~$278k (2026 threshold pending), with a 2.9% surtax above $1M for an effective 9.9% top rate. Two mandatory payroll premiums still come out of every Washington paycheck: WA Cares at 0.58% and the employee share of Paid Family and Medical Leave.
Breakdown
No income tax brackets in Washington
There is no bracket table on this page because Washington has none: it does not tax wage income at all. What you owe is federal income tax and FICA, and those are shown in the breakdown above.
Where Washington gets the money instead
Washington has no income tax on wages but does tax long-term capital gains, withholds two mandatory payroll premiums, and has one of the highest combined sales tax rates in the country.
Approximate effective rates from Tax Foundation state comparisons, shown to give the order of magnitude of the trade-off. They move a little each year; check your county assessor for the figure that applies to you.
Despite having no income tax, Washington withholds two mandatory payroll premiums from every paycheck: WA Cares at 0.58% and the employee share of Paid Family and Medical Leave.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Washington have a state income tax?
No. Washington levies no state income tax on wages for tax year 2026. No wage income tax. Separate 7% capital-gains tax on long-term gains above ~$278k (2026 threshold pending), with a 2.9% surtax above $1M for an effective 9.9% top rate. Two mandatory payroll premiums still come out of every Washington paycheck: WA Cares at 0.58% and the employee share of Paid Family and Medical Leave. Federal income tax and FICA still apply: Social Security at 6.2% on wages up to $184,500 and Medicare at 1.45%, plus 0.9% additional Medicare above $200,000 single or $250,000 married filing jointly.
If Washington has no income tax, what does it tax instead?
Washington has no income tax on wages but does tax long-term capital gains, withholds two mandatory payroll premiums, and has one of the highest combined sales tax rates in the country. The effective property tax rate runs around 0.87% of a home's value per year, and the combined average state and local sales tax rate is about 9.38%. Before treating a move as a tax cut, price both against what you would have paid in income tax where you are now.
What payroll deductions does Washington require besides income tax?
WA Cares Fund (long-term care) at 0.58% of all wages with no cap; Paid Family & Medical Leave (employee share) at 0.81% on the first $184,500 of wages. These are withheld from your paycheck like tax, and they are included in the calculation above.
Does Washington tax Social Security and retirement income?
Washington does not tax wages or retirement income. It does tax long-term capital gains above roughly $278,000 at 7%, with a 2.9% surtax above $1 million taking the top rate to 9.9%, which can reach retirees selling appreciated assets.
What surprises people most about Washington income tax?
Despite having no income tax, Washington withholds two mandatory payroll premiums from every paycheck: WA Cares at 0.58% and the employee share of Paid Family and Medical Leave.